Chairman announces closure of Limerick theatre

Mr John Horgan, Chairman of the Belltable Arts Centre, has announced that Limerick’s only remaining theatre is likely to close its doors in the very near future.

Lmk-Arts, the independent arts watchdog organisation, is now calling on the Director of Services at Limerick City Council, Mr Pat Dowling to take action immediately to reverse Mr Horgan’s plans and secure for Limerick the future of The Belltable Arts Centre.

Lmk-Arts has come out in support of Mr Terry Devlin, Artistic Director of Island Theatre Company, in his recent efforts to highlight the current void facing the performing arts in Limerick because of Belltable plans.

Lmk-Arts believe that Limerick City Council, in not providing a Civic Arts Centre, is in fact contravening the national arts strategy demanded by law by central government. ‘We may have to force this issue through the courts ‘, explained a spokesperson for Lmk-Arts.

"It is unacceptable that the people of Limerick will have to wait up to fifteen years for a civic theatre venue for Limerick and that an entire generation of Limerick people will grow up in a city without a designated theatre", according to a spokesperson for the group.